Herman Cyril McNeile

“ The dancing saloon was empty as we turned into it. The reek of stale smoke and spirits was worse than it had been the night before, but it was evidently too early for the habitués to arrive.
“So much the better,” said Jim grimly. “It gives us a clear field.”
He gave a shout of “Bar!” and after a moment or two evil MacTavert's face appeared through a door. He stared at us for a time in silence; then he pressed an electric bell twice.
“This bar don't open till midday,” he remarked at length.
“That's very fortunate,” said Jim placidly. “It gives us an hour to break it up in. ”

“ Jim had his hand in his pocket, and I could see the outline of his gun, but if MacTavert saw it he gave no sign. He led the way up the stairs, and paused at the top, waiting for us. And it was then I noticed that the other man had left the bar. It was empty save for the unconscious scoundrel on the floor.
“Here's the room,” remarked MacTavert, flinging open the door and leading the way in.
“You infernal swine!” roared Jim, as we saw the terrified girl. She was lashed to a chair and gagged, and in an instant he was beside her undoing the rope, and Colette was free!
“Cover him, Dick!” ”

“ Neither of us knew Valparaiso, and we were at a loose end, but that tout had “tout” written altogether too largely all over him. So Jim, with commendable brevity, consigned him to his undoubted future destination, and we turned back toward our hotel for a cocktail before dinner.
And then there occured one of those things which a man ignores or does not ignore, according to the particular brand he is. When a woman gives a little cry for help, it is as often as not advisable to continue one's stroll and leave matters to be dealt with by the proper authorities. ”

“ I said, as we strolled back toward the hotel.
Jim grinned. “I like 'em tough. Let's dine.”
He was silent during dinner, and it was not until we had nearly finished that he spoke.
“If it's what I think it is, Dick, Mr. MacTavert and I will have words to-night.” His voice was savage.
MACTAVERT'S dancing saloon was very easy to find. As we entered the doors the strains of an automatic piano grinding out a waltz met our ears, and for a moment or two we stood just inside watching the scene. It was typical of scores of similar places to be found in seaports all over the world. ”

“ It means a quicker return for your money, and not such a rapid depreciation of stock. Not that MacTavert laid out much money to start with; there are quicker and surer ways into which is perhaps better not to enter. And MacTavert was a past master in all of them. Once a girl was there, God help her!—for she was beyond human aid. She was MacTavert's property, body and soul, and as such she did his bidding for the price of her keep.
FOR MacTavert was fe no believer in letting them have any money. Money makes for independence, and independence was the last thing he wished to encourage. ”

“ When the second officer, with a marlinespike in his hand as an adjunct to speech, has discharged every possible member of the crew to save the wage bill while unloading and loading, men are apt to run a bit wild. There's money to burn in their pockets, and when it's finished a crew will be wanted for some other boat. Until then—there are women.
That was MacTavert's principal line. ”

“ A little larger, perhaps, than the average—apart from that there was nothing to distinguish it from a hundred others. A general reek of perspiring humanity and stale spirits filled the air: the thick haze of tobacco smoke made it almost impossible to see across the room. ”

“ I handed her the postcard, and she glanced at it.
“What a pretty girl!” she said. “But what on earth is the matter with the poor girl's right arm?”
Jim and I looked at one another, and he smiled gravely.
Illustration: We walked quickly along, the girl between us. As far as I could see the street was deserted and I breathed more freely
“You have persuaded Dick into making an ass of himself on paper, my dear,” he remarked. “You get him to tell you the story of how Colette had her arm splintered to pieces in MacTavert's dancing saloon in Valparaiso. ”

“ So now we all know one another, Colette. And what we want to know is how you came into this unpleasant place. Then, after we've heard that, we must see how we can get you out.”
The girl looked at him with shining eyes; he seemed to her the most wonderful man in the world.
“You'll think me such a little fool when I tell you,” she whispered miserably; and Jim smiled again.
“We've all of us made idiots of ourselves at one time or another. Tell me, Colette—you're not French, are you, like your name?”
The girl laughed. “No; I'm English.” Her voice faltered for a moment. “I come from Sussex ”

“ They could be bought like his rink—no credit allowed—and MacTavert pocketed the cash.
Not often does one find a man so completely dead to every sense of human decency as he was. Originally, as his name implied, he was a Scotsman. ”